WTO: stumbling blocks to Doha round.!!

It has been close to a decade since Doha round was launched in 2001 to ensure free trade between member countries. In spite of numerous negotiations between the developed and developing countries, there has not been any convergence of thoughts on major trade issues. The US and Europe are not ready to remove subsidies available to their farmers and have been demanding greater market access for their goods in developing countries. The developing countries led by india and china have termed such demands totally unfair as they feel that they are not able to export agricultural products due to subsidies available to western farmers. This has affected the livelihood of a number of farmers in Asia and Africa. Moreover, it has severely depressed the income of these farmers. Therefore , it is unwise for developing countries to open up their markets for western goods when they face huge trade distorting subsidies in the case of agricultural products.

Its time for western countries to be pragmatic in their approach and should implement free trade in practice rather than giving seminars about the benefits of free trade. There appears to be consensus in the international community to hasten the Doha round and seek its early conclusion by 2010. However, it all depends on compromises which different countries will have to make to enjoy the benefits of free trade in true sense